Good Friday

ABBREVIATIONS
AH = The Africana Hymnal

BOW = United Methodist Book of Worship

CCLI = Christian Copyright Licensing International, SongSelect

TFWS = The Faith We Sing (2000)

UMH = United Methodist Hymnal

W&S = Worship & Song (2011)

SOZ = Songs of Zion

ENTRANCE

Silent Procession

Reading Hebrews 10:16-25

The Reproaches Adapted from Book of Worship 363-365

O my people, O my Church,
what have I done to you, or in what have I offended you?
I led you forth from the land of Egypt
and delivered you by the waters of baptism,
but you have prepared a cross for your Savior.

People of God,
don’t look away.
Refuse to avert your eyes or attention.
Behold joy and suffering in the world today.

2) I led you through the desert forty years and fed you with manna;
I brought you through times of persecution and of renewal
and gave you my body, the bread of heaven;
but you have prepared a cross for your Savior.

People of God,
don’t look away.
Lift your eyes and see the promise:
The body of Christ, broken for you;
The blood of Christ, shed for you.

3) I made you branches of my vineyard
and gave you the water of salvation,
but when I was thirsty you gave me vinegar and gall
and pierced with a spear the side of your Savior.

People of God,
don’t look away.
See streams of filthy water flowing through refugee camps
flowing alongside faucets of lead-laden water from pipes in Flint,
and wells providing fresh water in desert places.

4) I went before you in a pillar of cloud,
but you have led me to the judgment hall of Pilate.
I brought you to a land of freedom and prosperity,
but you have scourged, mocked, and beaten me.

People of God,
don’t look away.
Refuse to avert your eyes from the pain.
See the suffering in the world today
rising up against the riches of capital gain.

5) I gave you a royal scepter, and bestowed the keys to the kingdom,
but you have given me a crown of thorns.
I raised you on high with great power,
but you have hanged me on the cross.

People of God,
don’t look away.
Refuse to avert your eyes from the thorns.
See the sharp tines circling his head
as blood flows down, tears flowing red.

6) My peace I gave, which the world cannot give,
and washed your feet as a servant,
but you draw the sword to strike in my name
and seek high places in my kingdom.

People of God,
don’t look away.
Refuse to avert your eyes from the pain.
See the suffering in the world today
in the ancient lands of Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Palestine.
See the faces of God’s people.

7) I accepted the cup of suffering and death for your sakes,
but you scatter and deny and abandon me.
I sent the Spirit of truth to lead you,
but you close your hearts to guidance.

People of God,
don’t look away.
Refuse to avert your eyes from the pain.
See the suffering in the world today
in the for-profit deportation detention center in Lumpkin, Georgia.
and others, like it, kept far from cities, away from view.

8) I called you to go and bring forth fruit,
but you cast lots for my clothing.
I prayed that you all may be one,
but you continue to quarrel and divide.

People of God,
don’t look away.
Refuse to avert your eyes from the pain.
See the suffering in the church today,
self-inflicted, but no less cruel.

See the bruises we inflict on the faces of God’s people.

9) I grafted you into the tree of my chosen people Israel,
but you turned on them with persecution and mass murder.
I made you joint heirs with them of my covenants,
but you made them scapegoats for your own guilt.

People of God,
don’t look away.
Refuse to avert your eyes from the pain.
See the suffering in the world today
in the scars of survivors, and the fresh wounds or graves
of marginalized, blamed, and scapegoated peoples.

10) I came to you as the least of your brothers and sisters.
I was hungry but you gave me no food,
thirsty but you gave me no drink.
I was a stranger but you did not welcome me,
naked but you did not clothe me,
sick and in prison but you did not visit me.

People of God,
don’t look away.
Refuse to avert your eyes from the pain.
See the suffering in the world today
in those against whom we build walls
of concrete, wire, or laws.

A brief silence follows.

THE LORD'S PRAYER *

Silence

Prayer for Healing

We draw the sword to claim high places for ourselves.
We scourge, mock, and beat you, Jesus.
We prepare a cross for you.
We hang you on it.
We pierce your side with the spear.
We willfully break the fellowship you prayed to be one.
We make scapegoats of people we deem other.
We create or refuse to end malnutrition, contamination of water,
poverty, sickness, inhospitality, and imprisonment.

Silence

Jesus, keep us near the cross,
that we may be drawn back to you,
and be healed. Amen.

The people may turn to one another, saying to each:
May Jesus draw you to himself,
and heal you.

WORD AND RESPONSE

Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross UMH 301

The Passion of Jesus Christ, according to John Book of Worship 355-361

The readings are from the United Methodist service of Tenebrae. Candles need not be used in this service. Silence follows all readings. Sung responses follow some readings. A more extended silence follows readings 14 and 16 prior to a sung response.

After Reading 1
Go to Dark Gethsemane UMH 290 st 1

After Reading 3
Go to Dark Gethsemane UMH 209, st 2

After Reading 9
To Mock Your Reign, O Dearest Lord UMH 285 (all stanzas)

After Reading 10
All may stand as able.
Ah, Holy Jesus UMH 289, st 1-2

After Reading 14
Long Silence
Go to Dark Gethsemane UMH 209. st 3

After Reading 16
Long Silence
Were You There UMH 288, st 5

Silence

The Lord’s Prayer

SENDING FORTH

The worship leaders may process in silence to the doors.

Deacon or Pastor:
Go in peace.
The people depart in silence.